Optical recording medium and data recording device

ABSTRACT

Provided is an optical disk manufacturable by a conventional recording medium manufacturing method and that is capable of performing recording with an information recording apparatus used to perform recording on conventional recording mediums, and a data recording apparatus for recording contents data. 
 
An optical disk  100  has a structure in which a first substrate  110  and a second substrate  120  are bonded together. The first substrate is provided with a recording layer in which contents data is recorded, and the second substrate is provided with a visual information recording layer in which information enabling visual recognition of, for example, the contents of contents data or a title of the contents data is recorded as visual information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention fall into the technical field of optical recordingmedia that record visual information on a surface different from arecording surface to record contents data.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, as disk-shaped information recording mediums capable ofhigh-density information recording, so-called DVD (digital versatiledisc) devices are generalized. In addition, data-writable DVD devices,such as DVD-R (DVD-Recordable) devices capable of only one timerecording and DVD-RW (DVD-Rewritable) devices capable of multi-timerewriting are used in practical application.

Conventionally, in the case of optical disks, such as writable opticaldisks, it is known that in the event of recording contents data, thecontents, a title thereof, and the like of recorded contents data areprinted or written by an inkjet printer or handwriting on a surface(“label surface”, hereafter) of an optical disk different from a surface(“data recording surface”, hereafter) bearing the recorded contents datafor identification of the disk from other optical disks or forindicating the recorded contents.

In addition, recently, in the case of such writable optical disks, it isknown that the contents of contents data, a title thereof, and the likeare recorded as visual information onto a free area of the datarecording surface by using a laser beam or laser light.

In the case of DVD devices of the type recording the contents ofcontents data on the data recording surface, an irradiation portion andnon-irradiation portion of laser light are formed on the data recordingsurface. The laser light irradiation portion and non-irradiation portioncause variations in optical characteristics to thereby record the visualinformation (see Patent Document 1, for example).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-283470

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the case of conventional optical disks on which contents data isrecorded, in the event of such inkjet printing of visual information onthe label surface, the recording medium has to be manufactured such thatprintable label surface is preformed thereon. In addition, in the eventof recording of visual information with laser, since the surface onwhich the visual information is formed is used as the data recordingsurface, problems are not only that the visual information cannot beeasily recognized, but also that, when there is not a free areaavailable, the visual information cannot be sufficiently recorded.

The present embodiment is made in view of the respective problemsdescribed above, one example of objects of the invention is to providean optical disk manufacturable by a conventional recording mediummanufacturing method and is recordable by an information recordingapparatus and to provide a data recording apparatus for recordingcontents data on the optical disk.

Means for Solving the Problems

The above object of present invention can be achieved by the presentinvention of claim 1. The present invention of claim 1 is provided with;a data recording layer on which contents data is recorded by irradiationof an optical beam, and a visual information recording layer on whichvisual information which is visually recognized and indicative ofinformation regarding the contents of the contents data is recorded byirradiation of the optical beam, wherein the data recording layer andthe visual information recording layer are laminated.

The above object of present invention can be achieved by the presentinvention of claim 9. The present invention of claim 1 records visualinformation onto an optical recording medium formed by lamination of adata recording layer onto which contents data is recorded, and a visualinformation recording layer on which visual information which isvisually recognized and indicative of information regarding the contentsof the contents data is recorded, the present invention is providedwith; an interface that receives the visual information to be recorded;a pickup that is used to record the received visual information; and avisual-information dedicated drive signal generating device thatgenerates a visual-information dedicated drive signal for driving thepickup in accordance with the received visual information, wherein thepickup records the visual information onto the visual informationrecording layer in accordance with the generated visual-informationdedicated drive signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a physical structure of an optical disk of afirst embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a data structure of the optical disk of thefirst embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is one example of an optical disk when visual information isrecorded thereon in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data recordingand playback apparatus that records contents data and visual informationonto the optical disk of the first embodiment according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording process of a system controlunit for visual information in a rewritable optical disk of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording process of the system controlunit for visual information in a recordable optical disk of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data recordingand playback apparatus that records contents data and visual informationonto an optical disk of a second embodiment according to the presentinvention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

110 first substrate 114 first read-in area 115 data area 120 secondsubstrate 122 second read-in area 123 visual information area 200, 300data recording and playback apparatus 201 pickup 204 data recordingencoder 205 visual information recording encoder 206 drive shift controlunit 210 system control unit 301 first pickup 302 second pickup

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

Embodiments described below are each in the case that an inventiveoptical recording medium and data recording apparatus for recording dataonto the medium are adapted to an optical disk for recording contentsdata contained in, for example, a DVD-R or DVD-RW device, and to a datarecording and playback apparatus for recording contents data and visualinformation onto the optical disk.

First Embodiment

First, a first embodiment of a respective optical disk and datarecording and playback apparatus will be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

To begin with, a physical structure and data structure of the opticaldisk in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the physical structure of the optical disk ofthe present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the data structureof the optical disk of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is one example of the optical disk when visual information isrecorded thereon in the first embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 1, an optical disk 100 has a structure formed bybonding a first substrate 110 and a second substrate 120. On the firstsubstrate there is provided a recording layer (“data recordingapparatus”, hereafter) for recording contents data. On the secondsubstrate there is provided a recording layer (“visual informationrecording layer”, hereafter) for recording visually recognizableinformation, such as information on the contents of contents data or atitle of the contents data, as visual information.

The first substrate 110 is provided with a data recording layer providedon the side of the second substrate 120 and is formed of a transparentmaterial permeable to the laser. The first substrate 110 is formed onthe data recording surface that irradiated with the laser light.

More specifically, the first substrate 110 is provided with the datarecording layer formed of a phase change film that changes thereflectance by using the crystallized condition of a substance, therebyto record the contents data and other data by changing the reflectanceof the phase change film.

The second substrate 120 is provided with a visual information recordinglayer provided on the side of the first substrate 110 and is formed of atransparent material permeable to the laser, similarly as the firstsubstrate 110. The second substrate 120 is formed on the label surfaceon the side opposite to the data recording surface.

More specifically, the second substrate 120 is provided with the visualinformation recording layer that contains dyes different from oneanother in reflectance depending on irradiation of the laser light. Anexample of the film is a film that has characteristics in which highreflection light energy is produced when the film is not irradiated bythe laser light and the reflection light energy reduces upon irradiationof the laser light.

The optical disk 100, which has the physical structure described above,has a data structure shown in FIG. 2. On the recording layer formed onthe first substrate 110, there are, in order from the inner peripheryside, a clamp hole 111 for fixing the optical disk 100 to a spindle of aspindle motor (not shown) of a playback apparatus for performingplayback of the optical disk 100; a first non-recording area 112 used tofix the disk; a recording information area 113 for adjusting the laserlight in the event of writing of contents data; a first read-in area 114recording management information for being used to manage or controlrecording and playback of the contents data; a data area 115 forrecording the contents data; and a read-out area 116 for recordingvarious types of information for being used for information recordingtermination and information playback termination.

For example, in the present embodiment, the first read-in area 114serves as a data management area of the present invention, and the dataarea 115 serves as a data recording area of the present invention.

More specifically, in the recording information area 113 there areprovided, for example, an area (PCA: power calibration area) forintensity compensation for optical beams in the event of recording ofinformation on the optical disk 100, and an area (RMA: recordingmanagement area) use to record recording management informationnecessary for a data recording and playback apparatus 200.

The first read-in area 114 contains items of preliminarily recordedinformation, that is, identification information of the optical disk100; substrate information indicating that the date recording layer isformed on the surface of the optical disk 100 to be irradiated by thelaser light; address management information regarding the address usedto specify the data area 115; and other information such as managementinformation regarding the copyright protection of the recorded contentsdata.

In the first read-in area 114, the data area 115, and the read-out area116, a groove-shaped tracks (“groove tracks”, hereafter) for recordingdata, and tracks (“land tracks”, hereafter) having a different heightfrom the groove tracks each interposed between the groove tracks areformed. The groove tracks and the land tracks are spirally formedadjacent to one another from the inner periphery side to the outerperiphery side.

In the respective areas, the groove tracks are formed of grooves eachcalled a “wobble” meandering at a certain cycle (the groove hereafterwill be referred to as a “groove wobble”). In these areas, there arestored ether signals for tracking of an optical pickup 201 and signalsfor rotation control of the optical disk 100, or information such aspre-pit detection gate signals to be used for playback control orrecording control of the optical disk 100 in the data playback apparatusin the event of playing back the contents data in accordance with thewobble signals occurred by the groove wobbles.

Further, in these areas, there are sequentially recorded respectiveitems of data, such as the contents data, in the direction from of theinner periphery side to the outer periphery side.

On the land tracks formed in the respective areas, there are regularlyprestored pits containing address information indicative of thepositions in the optical disk 100 (the pits hereafter will be referredto as “land pre-pits”), and pits indicative that the second substrate120 has a visual information area 123 for recording the visualinformation.

In or on the visual information recording layer provided on the secondsubstrate 120, there are formed, in order from the inner periphery side,the clamp hole 111, a second non-recording area 121 for the fixation, asecond read-in area 122 for recording management information for beingused to manage records in the event of recording of the visualinformation and a visual information area 123 for recording the visualinformation.

For example, the second read-in area 122 of the present embodiment savesas a visual information management area of the present invention.

More specifically, in the second read-in area 122, there are recordeditems of information which follow, in addition to the identificationinformation of the optical disk 100. The items of information aresubstrate information indicative that the visual information recordinglayer is formed on the surface of the optical disk 100 to be irradiatedwith the laser light; address management information regarding theaddress specifying the visual information area 123; and visualinformation management information for being used to determine whetheror not visual information is already recorded. Further, in the secondread-in area 122, there is recorded visual-information contentsinformation that is indicative of the contents of visual informationafter the visual information has been recorded and that is indicative ofinformation of an address at which the visual information has beenrecorded.

In the visual information area 123, there is recorded visual informationto be visually transferred to a user, and data that, even when data inthat portion is read by the pickup 201, does not constitute data havingsignificance as contents data.

For instance, suppose that, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, contents dataof a 12th series version of a drama—drama title “ABC”, broadcast date“2003/8/20” or a 13th series version of the drama, broadcast date2003/8/27, is stored in the data area 115. In this case, visualinformation indicative of the contents of the contents data is recordedonto the visual information recording layer.

In more specific, FIG. 3B shows a recordable optical disk 100, such as aDVD-R, in which the visual information is indicated in the event thatcontents data of the 13th series version of the “ABC” drama is recordedafter contents data of the 12 series version of the “ABC” drama isrecorded.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in the case that the contents data of the 13thseries version of the “ABC” drama additionally written into the opticaldisk 100 and the contents data of the 12th series version of the “ABC”drama is unnecessary, the visual information thereof can be added with acancellation line being added on. In this case, the contents data of the12th series version of the “ABC” drama is physically undeletable becausethe medium is the recordable optical disk 100. However, management iscarried out in accordance with contents management information and otherinformation recorded in the first read-in area 114 so that the contentsdata is virtually deleted, that is, the contents data is inhibited frombeing read out.

In addition, as described further below, according to the presentembodiment, when the data recording and playback apparatus 200 has readout the visual-information contents information, the data recording andplayback apparatus 200 is able to acquire, as information, the structureof the visual information stored in the optical disk 100.

Similarly as in the first substrate 110, in the second read-in area 122and the visual information area 123, groove-shaped groove tracks forrecording data and land tracks each interposed between the groove tracksare formed, and the groove tracks and the land tracks spirally formedadjacent to one another from the inner periphery side to the outerperiphery side.

Similarly as in the first substrate 110, in the second read-in area 122,data is sequentially recorded onto the groove tracks from the innerperiphery side; however, as described further below, in the visualinformation area 123, visual information is randomly recorded onto therespective groove tracks and land tracks.

With reference to FIG. 4, the data recording and playback apparatus forrecording contents data and visual information onto the optical diskwill be described hereinbelow.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the datarecording and playback apparatus that records contents data and visualinformation onto the optical disk of the present embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 4, either contents data or visual informationoutput from a personal computer 50 connected as an external deviceinputs into the data recording and playback apparatus 200. The datarecording and playback apparatus 200 records the received contents dataor visual information onto the optical disk 100.

In the present embodiment, contents data and visual information to berecorded are generated by an application program running in the personalcomputer 50. The data recording and playback apparatus 200 records ontothe optical disk 100 the contents data and visual information thusgenerated as data to be recorded.

More specifically, the data recording and playback apparatus 200 isconfigured to include the pickup 201 that activates a semiconductorlaser in accordance with the received contents data or visualinformation. In this configuration, the pickup 201 is used to irradiatea laser beam on either the data recording layer or visual informationrecording layer of the optical disk 100. With the laser beam irradiatedon the optical disk 100, recording and playback of the contents data andrecording of visual information are performed on the optical disk 100.

The data recording and playback apparatus 200 is connected to externaldevices, such as the personal computer 50, and is configured to includean interface 202 that is used for either input and output of contentsdata or input of visual information; an input and output management unit203 that manages contents data and visual information; a data recordingencoder 204 that encodes the received contents data into a predeterminedformat for recording the data on the optical disk 100; a visualinformation recording encoder 205 that converts the received visualinformation into a predetermined format for recording the informationonto the optical disk 100; a drive shift control unit 206 that shifts adrive waveform of the pickup 201; a decoder 207 that decodes a signalread out by the pickup 201 into a predetermined format; a data recordingRAM 208 that is used either to record or to read out contents data; avisual information recording RAM 209 that is used to record visualinformation; and a system control unit 210 that totally controls therespective component units described above while performing supplyand/or reception of necessary control information through a bus 211. Therespective units are connected to one another via the bus 211.

For example, in the present embodiment, the data recording encoder 204serves as contents-data dedicated drive signal generating device of thepresent invention, and the visual information recording encoder 205serves as visual-information dedicated drive signal generating device ofthe present invention.

In addition, for example, in the present embodiment, the drive shiftcontrol unit 206 serves as selecting device of the present invention,and the system control unit 210 serves as detecting device anddetermining device of the present invention.

When recording contents data and visual information onto the opticaldisk 100, the pickup 201 operates in accordance with a modulated signalgenerated by the data recording encoder 204 and the visual informationrecording encoder 205.

More specifically, in accordance with the modulated signal generated bythe data recording encoder 204 and the visual information recordingencoder 205, the pickup 201 causes activation of the semiconductor laser(not shown) provided in the pickup 201, and causes emanation of a laserbeam to the optical disk 100. The laser beam varies in intensitycorresponding to information being recorded.

In addition, the pickup 201 emanates a laser beam of a fixed intensityfor playback, receives reflected light thereof through a light receiverunit (not shown), generates a detection signal variable corresponding tointensity variation of reflected light, and outputs the generateddetection signal to the decoder 207.

The interface 202 receives either contents data having a predeterminedformat or visual information from the outside. The interface 202converts the received contents data or visual information into apredetermined format and then outputs them to the input and outputmanagement unit 203.

In addition, contents data read out by the pickup 201 from the opticaldisk 100 is input from the input and output management unit 203 into theinterface 202. In accordance with an instruction of the system controlunit 210, the interface 202 outputs the contents data to the personalcomputer 50 connected to the outside through the interface 202.

The input and output management unit 203 receives either the contentsdata or visual information converted by the interface 202 into thepredetermined format. In accordance with an instruction of the systemcontrol unit 210, the input and output management unit 203 uses the datarecording RAM 208 to output the contents data to the data recordingencoder 204 and to output the visual information to the visualinformation recording encoder 205.

In addition, the input and output management unit 203 receives contentsdata decoded by the decoder 207 and read out from the optical disk 100.Similarly as in the case of input of the contents data, the input andoutput management unit 203 uses the data recording RAM 208 to output thecontents data, which has been output from the decoder 207, to thepersonal computer 50 connected to the outside through the interface 202.

More specifically, while temporarily storing received contents data intothe data recording RAM 208, the input and output management unit 203reads out contents data from the data recording RAM 208 with apredetermined timing, and outputs the contents data to either the datarecording encoder 204 or the interface 202.

In addition, similarly as in the case of the contents data, whiletemporarily storing the output visual information into the visualinformation recording RAM 209, the input and output management unit 203reads out visual information from the visual information recording RAM209 with a predetermined timing, and outputs the visual information tothe visual information recording encoder 205.

The data recording encoder 204 receives contents data through the inputand output management unit 203. In accordance with an instruction of thesystem control unit 210, the data recording encoder 204 performs apredetermined process on received contents data, generates modulatedsignal for use in writing onto the optical disk 100, and outputs thegenerated modulated signal to the drive shift control unit 206.

More specifically, the data recording encoder 204 includes a signalprocessor unit 204 a that performs error correction encoding of thereceived contents data and that adds an error correction signal of, forexample, an ECC (Error Correction Code) block; and encoding processorunit 204 b that performs an 8/16 modulation (Eight to FourteenModulation) of the contents data added with the error correction signal,in accordance with predetermined encoding rules or standards, thereby togenerate a modulated signal.

The visual information recording encoder 205 receives visual informationoutput from the input and output management unit 203 through the visualinformation recording RAM 209. In accordance with an instruction of thesystem control unit 210, the visual information recording encoder 205performs a predetermined process on the received visual information tothereby generate a modulated signal for use in writing onto the opticaldisk 100, and outputs the generated modulated signal to the drive shiftcontrol unit 206.

More specifically, the visual information recording encoder 205 acquiresvisual information once written from the visual information recordingRAM 209, and generates a modulated signal for adjusting from the laserbeam intensity corresponding to the contrast in accordance with theacquired visual information.

In addition, in accordance with an address on the optical disk 100acquired by the decoder 207 described further below, the visualinformation recording encoder 205 determines a recording position, i.e.,an address, of the modulated signal generated through the system controlunit 210, and outputs the modulated signal generated in accordance withthe determined address.

Further, after recording of the visual information, the visualinformation recording encoder 205 controls the pickup 201 to writeaddress information of the recorded area, i.e., the range havingrecorded visual information, in the second read-in area 122.Concurrently, the encoder 205 generates a modulated signal correspondingto the address information and outputs the information to the driveshift control unit 206.

The drive shift control unit 206 receives the modulated signals outputfrom the data recording encoder 204 and the visual information recordingencoder 205. In accordance with an instruction of the system controlunit 210, the drive shift control unit 206 selects any one of thereceived modulated signals, and outputs the selected modulated signal tothe pickup 201.

More specifically, the drive shift control unit 206 selects themodulated signal output from the data recording encoder 204 in the eventof recording of contents data onto the optical disk 100, and selects themodulated signal output from the visual information recording encoder205 in the event of recording of visual information onto the opticaldisk 100, and outputs the selected modulated signal to the opticalpickup 201.

The decoder 207 receives the detection signal detected by the pickup201. The decoder 207 performs predetermined processes, such as presetamplification process and waveform shaping process, on the detecteddetection signal. In addition, the decoder performs a presetdemodulation process, thereby to generate various types of information,such as identification information of the optical disk 100, visualinformation management information, substrate information and addressmanagement information recorded in the respective read-in areas;contents data; and address information recorded in the land pre-pits.

In addition, the decoder 207 outputs the various types of generatedinformation to either the input and output management unit 203 or thesystem control unit 210.

The system control unit 210 is, primarily, configured to include acentral processing unit (“CPU”, hereafter) and memory, and totallycontrols the data recording and playback apparatus 200 in accordancewith instructions of the personal computer 50 connected to the outside.In more specific, the system control unit 210 controls the respectiveunits in the event of recording either contents data or visualinformation, and the respective units in the event of recording ofcontents data and playback thereof.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the contentsdata and visual information to be recorded are generated by theapplication program running in the personal computer 50. In accordancewith the instructions of the personal computer 50 input through the bus211 and the like, the system control unit 210 controls the respectiveunits, and records onto the optical disk 100 contents data and visualinformation generated as data to be recorded.

In addition, in the event of recording of contents data or playbackthereof and in the event of recording of visual information, the systemcontrol unit 210 acquires, through the pickup 201 and the decoder 207,identification information of the optical disk 100, visual informationmanagement information, various types of information such as substrateinformation and address management information, and predeterminedinformation such as visual information management information recordedin the first read-in area 114 and the second read-in area 122; andaddress information recorded in the land pre-pits.

Especially, as described further below, in the event of an initialoperation of recording visual information, the system control unit 210acquires predetermined information in either the first read-in area 114or the second read-in area 122, possibility or impossibility ofrecording visual information onto the substrate irradiated with thelaser beam, and the recording position in the visual information area123. In addition, while acquiring address information stored in the landpre-pits in the event of recording of the visual information onto theoptical disk 100, the system control unit 210 records the visualinformation onto the optical disk 100 in accordance with the addressinformation and the other information.

More specifically, in the event of a rewritable optical disk 100, suchas a DVD-RW device, in accordance with the acquired address recordedonto the optical disk 100, the system control unit 210 causes theintensity of the laser beam to be adjusted by the pickup 201, andconcurrently controls the pickup to irradiate the laser beam onto theoptical disk 100 and to record the visual information thereon.

Similarly, also when rewriting visual information onto the rewritableoptical disk 100 on which visual information has already been recorded,the system control unit 100 erases the visual information recorded withthe laser beam, and concurrently records the new visual information.

Alternatively, in the event of a recordable optical disk 100, such as aDVD-R device, in accordance with an acquired address recorded onto theoptical disk 100, the system control unit 210 causes the laser beamemanated from the pickup 201 to irradiate only on the visual informationarea 123 corresponding to the address portion to be irradiated, therebycausing the visual information to be recorded.

In the event that adding the visual information to the optical disk 100on which visual information has already been recorded, the systemcontrol unit 100 operates in accordance with visual informationmanagement information so that an unirradiated address portion isrecognized, as shown in FIG. 3B, the unirradiated address portion isirradiated, and visual information management information in therecorded visual information is added to the already recorded visualinformation management information, whereby additional writing iscarried out.

In addition, in accordance with the visual information managementinformation, the system control unit 210 forms the structure of visualinformation recorded onto the optical disk 100, that is, a recordpattern of the recorded visual information, and outputs the formedrecord pattern of the visual information to an external device, such asthe connected personal computer 50.

More specifically, in the event that visual information has beenrecorded with visual information management information, the systemcontrol unit 210 acquires an address at which the laser beam has beenirradiated, and forms the record pattern of the visual information inaccordance with the acquired address.

Details of recording processes for visual information in the systemcontrol unit 210 of the present embodiment will be described below.

Operation of the recording processes for visual information in thesystem control unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording process of the system controlunit for visual information in a rewritable optical disk. FIG. 6 is aflow chart showing a recording process of the system control unit forvisual information in a recordable optical disk.

The operation of the recording processes will be described separately inthe event of a rewritable optical disk such as a DVD-RW device allowingoverwrite of data and in the event of a recordable optical disk such asa DVD-R device allowing only one-time recording or additional writingthereto.

For the operation, the case is now assumed such that the optical disk100 for recording the visual information is already set on the datarecording and playback apparatus 200. Concurrently, the identificationbetween the rewritable optical disk 100 and the recordable optical disk100 are already performed in accordance with various types ofinformation stored in either the first read-in area 114 or the secondread-in area 122.

(Rewritable Optical Disk)

With reference to FIG. 5, with an application program being activated,in system control unit 210, input is carried out specifying to recordvisual information output from the personal computer 50 onto therewritable disk (step S11). Responsively, the system control unit 210controls the pickup 201, thereby reading out various types ofinformation. They are, for example, substrate information, addressmanagement information, and visual information management information,if recorded, from either one of the first read-in area 114 and secondread-in area 122 of the optical disk 100, that is, from a read-in areaexisting on the surface readable by the pickup 201 (step S12).

More specifically, the system control unit 210 drives a drive unit (notshown) of the pickup, thereby causing the pickup 201 to search theread-in area. In addition, the system control unit controls a spindlemotor (not shown) to rotate the rewritable optical disk 100, therebycausing the pickup 201 to read out the various types of informationrecorded in the read-in area, whereby to acquire the read out thevarious types of information through the decoder 207.

Subsequently, the system control unit 210 determines in accordance withthe acquired substrate information whether or not the surface of theoptical disk 100 recordable by the pickup 201 is a visual informationrecording surface (step S13).

If having determined that the surface recordable by the pickup 201 isthe data recording surface, the system control unit 210 sends anotification to that effect to the personal computer 50 (step S14), andthen terminates the operation.

In this event, if the personal computer 50 has received a notificationto the effect that the surface recordable by the pickup 201 is the datarecording surface, since the visual information cannot be recorded ontothe data recording surface, the personal computer 50 notifies the userto that effect through a display or speaker connected to the personalcomputer 50.

Alternately, if having determined that the surface recordable by thepickup 201 is the visual information recording surface, then the systemcontrol unit 210 determines in accordance with the acquired visualinformation management information whether or not visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100 (step S15).

If having determined that visual information has not yet been recordedon the optical disk 100, then the system control unit 210 outputs anotification to that effect to the personal computer 50, and awaitsinput of visual information to be recorded (step S16).

Alternatively, if having determined that visual information has alreadybeen recorded on the optical disk 100, then the system control unit 210reads out the visual information, outputs the read out visualinformation with a notification to that effect to the personal computer50, and awaits input of visual information to be recorded (step S17)

More specifically, if having determined that visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100, then the system controlunit 210 controls the pickup 201, thereby to cause visual informationmanagement information recorded in the second read-in area 122 to beread. Then, the system control unit causes a record pattern of thevisual information to be formed in accordance with the readout visualinformation management information, and causes the formed visualinformation to be output to the computer.

If, at steps S16 and S17, having received the notification to the effectthat visual information is not yet recorded on the optical disk 100 seton the data recording and playback apparatus 200, then the personalcomputer 50 displays a disk surface of a new optical disk 100 inaccordance with the application program. Alternatively, if havingreceived the notification to the effect that visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100 set on the data recordingand playback apparatus 200, the personal computer 50 displays a recordpattern of the received visual information, that is, a formed recordpattern of the visual information, in accordance with the applicationprogram.

Subsequently, the visual information being recorded on the optical disk100 is edited or generated by the personal computer 50, and input iscarried out to specify execution of recording of the visual informationonto the optical disk 100 (step S18). Then, the system control unit 210controls the drive shift control unit 206 to shift a signal input of thepickup 201 to the visual information recording encoder 205. In addition,the system control unit controls the drive unit (not shown) of thepickup 201 to search the surface to the recording position of the visualinformation, that is, to the innermost peripheral position of the visualinformation area 123 (step S19).

Subsequently, when visual information to be recorded is input into thedata recording and playback apparatus 200 from the personal computer 50,then the visual information to be recorded is input into the visualinformation recording encoder 205 through the input and outputmanagement unit 203 and the visual information recording RAM 209. Then,the visual information recording encoder 205 controls the pickup 201 inaccordance with the received visual information, thereby recording thereceived visual information onto the optical disk 100 (step S20)

More specifically, the input and output management unit 203 outputs thereceived visual information to the visual information recording RAM 209through the interface 202. Concurrently, the visual informationrecording encoder 205 generates a modulated signal from the visualinformation received through the visual information recording RAM 209.

In addition, while determining address information in accordance withthe received visual information and controlling the position of thepickup 201 through the system control unit 210 in accordance with thedetermined address information and the address on the optical disk 100for recording the visual information read out by the decoder 207, thevisual information recording encoder 205 outputs the modulated signal tothe pickup 201.

Finally, when input is carried out from the personal computer 50 tospecify termination of recording of visual information, then the systemcontrol unit 210 causes the visual information recording encoder 205 togenerate visual information management information, and causes thegenerated visual information management information to be recordedthrough the pickup 201 in a predetermined area of the second read-inarea 122 (step S21).

More specifically, the system control unit 210 causes the addressirradiated or not irradiated with the laser beam to be overwritten tothe second read-in area 122 as visual information management informationin the formed visual information.

(Recordable Optical Disk)

With reference to FIG. 6, with an application program being activated,in system control unit 210, input is carried out specifying to recordvisual information output from the personal computer 50 onto therecordable disk (step S31). Responsively, the system control unit 210reads out various types of information, such as substrate information,from either one of the first read-in area 114 and second read-in area122 of the optical disk 100 (step S32).

Subsequently, the system control unit 210 determines in accordance withthe acquired substrate information whether or not the surface of theoptical disk 100 recordable by the pickup 201 is a visual informationrecording surface (step S33).

If having determined that the surface recordable by the pickup 201 isthe data recording surface, the system control unit 210 sends anotification to that effect to the personal computer 50 (step S34), andthen terminates the operation.

Alternately, if having determined that the surface recordable by thepickup 201 is the visual information recording surface, then the systemcontrol unit 210 determines in accordance with the acquired visualinformation management information whether or not visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100 (step S35).

If having determined that visual information is not yet recorded on theoptical disk 100, then the system control unit 210 outputs anotification to that effect to the personal computer 50, and awaitsinput of visual information to be recorded (step S36).

Alternatively, if having determined that visual information has alreadybeen recorded on the optical disk 100, then the system control unit 210determines in accordance with the acquired visual information managementinformation the presence or absence of a recordable area (step S37). Ifhaving determined that the recordable area is not present, the systemcontrol unit 210 outputs a notification to that effect to the personalcomputer 50 (step S38), and terminates the operation.

In this event, if the personal computer 50 has received a notificationto the effect that there is no recordable area for recording the visualinformation in the visual information area 123, since the visualinformation cannot be recorded onto the data recording surface, thepersonal computer 50 notifies the user to that effect through a displayor speaker connected to the personal computer 50.

Alternately, if having determined that the recordable visual informationarea 123 is present, then the system control unit 210 reads out therecorded visual information, outputs the visual information with anotification to that effect to the personal computer 50, and awaitsinput of visual information to be recorded (step S39).

More specifically, if having determined that visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100, then, similarly as in thecase of the rewritable optical disk 100, the system control unit 210controls the pickup 201, thereby to cause readout of newest visualinformation management information recorded in the second read-in area122. Then, the system control unit 210 causes visual information to beformed in accordance with the read out visual information managementinformation, and causes the formed visual information to be output tothe computer.

If, at steps S36-S39, having received the notification to the effectthat visual information is not yet recorded on the optical disk 100 seton the data recording and playback apparatus 200, then the personalcomputer 50 displays a disk surface of a new optical disk 100 inaccordance with the application program. Alternatively, if havingreceived the notification to the effect that visual information hasalready been recorded on the optical disk 100 set on the data recordingand playback apparatus 200, then the personal computer 50 displays arecord pattern of the received visual information, that is, a formedrecord pattern of the visual information, in accordance with theapplication program.

Subsequently, the visual information being recorded on the optical disk100 is edited or generated by the personal computer 50, and input iscarried out to the system control unit 210 to specify execution ofrecording of the visual information onto the optical disk 100 (stepS40). Then, the system control unit 210 controls the drive shift controlunit 206 to shift a signal input of the pickup 201 to the visualinformation recording encoder 205. In addition, the system control unitcontrols the drive unit (not shown) of the pickup 201 to search thesurface to the recording position of the visual information (step S41).

Subsequently, when visual information to be recorded is input into thedata recording and playback apparatus 200 from the personal computer 50,then the visual information to be recorded is input into the visualinformation recording encoder 205 through the interface 202, the inputand output management unit 203 and the visual information recording RAM209. Then, the visual information recording encoder 205 controls thepickup 201 in accordance with the received visual information, therebyrecording the received visual information onto the optical disk 100(step S42).

Finally, when input is carried out from the personal computer 50 tospecify termination of recording of visual information, then the systemcontrol unit 210 causes the visual information recording encoder 205 togenerate visual information management information, and causes thegenerated visual information management information to be recordedthrough the pickup 201 in a predetermined area of the second read-inarea 122 (step S43).

More specifically, the system control unit 210 causes the addressirradiated or not irradiated with the laser beam to be added to thesecond read-in area 122 as new visual information management informationin the formed visual information.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 includesthe data recording layer on which contents data is recorded byirradiation of the laser beam, and the visual information recordinglayer on which the visual information which is visually recognized andindicative of information regarding the contents data is recorded byirradiation of the laser beam. The data recording layer and the visualinformation recording layer are laminated.

With this structure, according to the present embodiment, when thevisual information is recorded to be visually recognized from thesurface different from the data recording surface through which the datarecording layer is irradiated with the laser beam, identifiable andvisual information can easily and accurately be formed in units of theoptical disk 100.

Accordingly the management can easily be done for a plurality of opticaldisks 100 that each enable characters, symbols, and/or other markings tobe easily and accurately indicated, compared to the case of handwritingcharacters, symbols, and/or other markings indicative of the contents ofthe contents data.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the case that thestructure is thus formed to include the data recording layer and visualinformation recording layer respectively provided by being laminated,the structure is the same as that of the conventional optical disk 100.The optical disk 100 of the present embodiment, therefore, can bemanufactured by a manufacturing method for the conventional optical disk100, so that the manufacturing cost for the optical disk 100 can bereduced, and low cost optical disks 100 can be provided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 isstructured such that, the visual information is recorded onto the visualinformation recording layer by irradiation of the laser beam, which isvisually recognized from the surface different from the data recordingsurface through which the data recording layer is irradiated with thelaser beam.

With this structure, according to the present embodiment, the visualinformation can be indicated onto the different surface of the datarecording surface, that is the surface on which the contents data is notrecorded, for example, in the case that the contents data is recordedonly onto a single surface. As such, when managing a plurality ofoptical disks 100, the optical disks 100 can be accurately identifiedfrom one another, therefore making it possible to improve the usabilityfor users.

According to the present embodiment, the structure is formed such thatthe visual information is recorded onto the visual information recordinglayer by irradiation of the laser beam from the surface different fromthe data recording surface.

With such a structure, in the present embodiment, the visual informationis recorded by irradiation of the laser beam from the surface differentfrom the data recording surface. Accordingly, when the contents data isrecorded only onto the single surface, for instance, the visualinformation is indicated on the surface onto which the contents data isnot recorded. As such, when managing a plurality of optical disks 100,the optical disks 100 can be accurately identified from one another,consequently making it possible to improve the usability for users.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 hasthe structure in which the data recording layer is provided on the firstsubstrate 110 and the visual information area 123 is provided on thesecond substrate 120, so that the structure is the same as that of theconventional optical disk 100. The optical disk 100 of the presentembodiment, therefore, can be manufactured by the manufacturing methodfor the conventional optical disk 100. Consequently, the manufacturingcost for the optical disk 100 can be reduced, and low cost optical disks100 can be provided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, on the visual informationrecording layer there are provided the visual information area 123 forrecording the visual information; and the second read-in area 122 inwhich the substrate information indicative of the visual informationrecording layer, the visual information management informationindicative of the presence or absence of the record of the visualinformation, and the address management information indicative of therecordable area for visual information are recorded.

With this structure, in the present embodiment, readout of the varioustypes of data recorded in the second read-in area 122 makes it possibleto determine the possibility/impossibility of recording onto the opticaldisk 100 currently being irradiated with the laser beam, the proprietyof the visual information recording surface on the surface of theoptical disk 100, and the area on which visual information can berecorded. Consequently, visual information can be accurately and easilyrecorded onto the optical disk 100.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the structure is formedsuch that, the visual information area 123 in which the substrateinformation indicative that the visual information recording layer isregularly recorded is provided on the visual information recordinglayer.

With this structure, in the present embodiment, even when the visualinformation area 123 has been searched by the pickup 201, it is possibleto recognize that the optical disk 100 is provided with the visualinformation area 123.

Further, according to the present embodiment, on the data recordinglayer are provided the data recording area for recording the contentsdata; the first read-in area 114 in which at least one of the recordinglayer information indicative that the recording layer is thecorresponding data recording layer, and recording medium informationindicative that the visual information recording layer is provided onthe optical recording medium.

According to the present embodiment, with the structure describedimmediately above, readout of the various types of data informationrecorded in the first read-in area makes it possible to determine thepossibility/impossibility of recording visual information onto theoptical disk 100 currently being irradiated with the laser beam and thepropriety of the visual information recording surface on the surface ofthe optical disk 100. Consequently, visual information can be accuratelyand easily recorded onto the optical disk 100.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the data recording andplayback apparatus 200 has the configuration that records visualinformation onto an optical disk 100 formed by lamination of the datarecording layer onto which the contents data is recorded, and a visualinformation recording layer on which visual information which isvisually recognized and indicative of information regarding the contentsof the contents data is recorded. The configuration includes theinterface 202 that receives visual information to be recorded; thepickup 201 that is used to record the received visual information; andthe visual information recording encoder 205 that generates thevisual-information dedicated modulated signal for driving the pickup201, in accordance with the received visual information. The pickup 201records the visual information onto the visual information recordinglayer in accordance with the generated visual-information dedicatedmodulated signal.

With this configuration, in the present embodiment, the modulated signalfor driving the pickup 201 is generated in accordance with the receivedvisual information, and the visual information is recorded onto thevisual information recording layer in accordance with thevisual-information dedicated modulated signal.

Accordingly, when the visual information is recorded onto the opticaldisk 100 to be visually recognized from the surface different from thedata recording surface which is the surface through which the datarecording layer is irradiated with the laser beam, identifiable andvisual information can easily and accurately be formed in units of theoptical disk 100.

Consequently, the management can easily be done for a plurality ofoptical disks 100 that each enable characters, symbols, and/or othermarkings to be easily and accurately indicated, compared to the case ofhandwriting of characters, symbols, and/or other markings indicative ofthe contents of contents data.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the visualinformation is recorded onto the optical disk 100 formed to include thedata recording layer and visual information recording layer respectivelyprovided by being laminated, the structure is the same as that of theconventional optical disk 100. The visual information, therefore, can berecorded onto the optical disk 100 that can be manufactured by amanufacturing method for the conventional optical disk 100.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration includes the datarecording encoder 204 that, when the contents data is input into theinterface 202 and the interface 202 records the contents data onto thedata recording layer, generates a contents-data dedicated modulatedsignal for driving the pickup 201, in accordance with the receivedvisual information; and the drive shift control unit 206 that selectsone of the contents-data dedicated modulated signal and thevisual-information dedicated modulated signal generated by the visualinformation recording encoder 205. When the contents-data dedicatedmodulated signal is selected, the pickup 201 records the contents dataonto the data recording layer in accordance with the contents-datadedicated modulated signal. When the visual-information dedicatedmodulated signal is selected, the pickup 201 records thevisual-information in accordance with the visual-information dedicatedmodulated signal.

With this configuration, in the present embodiment, when thecontents-data dedicated modulated signal is selected, the pickup 201records the contents data onto the data recording layer in accordancewith the contents-data dedicated modulated signal. Alternately, when thevisual-information dedicated modulated signal is selected, the pickup201 records the visual-information in accordance with thevisual-information dedicated modulated signal onto the data recordinglayer.

Accordingly, with the pickup 201, since the contents data and the visualinformation can be recorded onto the optical disk 100, the datarecording and playback apparatus 200 can easily configured, and the datarecording and playback apparatus 200 can be provided at low costs.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the configuration includesthe system control unit 210. In the case that the optical disk 100includes a visual information recording layer having at least one of thesecond read-in area 122 in which the visual information is recorded byirradiation of the optical beam from the surface different from the datarecording surface and in which at least substrate information indicativeof the corresponding visual information is recorded, and the visualinformation area 123 in which the visual information and at leastsubstrate information indicative of the corresponding visual informationare recorded, the system control unit 210 detects at lest one of therecording layer information recorded in the second read-in area 122 ofthe visual information recording layer and the recording layerinformation recorded in the visual information area 123 of the visualinformation recording layer; and determines an irradiation surface ofthe optical disk 100 being irradiated with the optical beams inaccordance with the detection result.

With this configuration, in the present embodiment, there is detected atlest one of the substrate information recorded in the second read-inarea 122 of the visual information recording layer and the substrateinformation recorded in the visual information area 123, and there isdetermined an irradiation surface of the optical disk 100 beingirradiated with the optical beams.

Accordingly, a surface of the optical disk 100 on which visualinformation is to be recorded can be accurately and easily verified.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the configuration includesthe system control unit 210. In the case that the optical disk 100includes the visual information recording layer on which visualinformation is recorded by irradiation of the laser beam from thesurface different from the data recording surface, and the datarecording layer which is provided with the first read-in area 114 inwhich substrate information indicative of the corresponding datarecording layer is recorded, the system control unit 210 detects thesubstrate information recorded onto the first read-in area 114 of thedata recording layer, and determines a surface of the optical disk 100being irradiated with the optical beams in accordance with the detectionresult.

With this configuration, in the present embodiment, there is detectedthe substrate information recorded in the first read-in area 114 of thedata recording layer, and there is determined a surface of the opticaldisk being irradiated with the optical beams.

Accordingly, a surface of the optical disk 100 on which visualinformation is to be recorded can be accurately and easily verified.

In the present embodiment, the visual information recording encoder 205and the data recording encoder 204 are discretely provided. However, theconfiguration may be such that portions of functions of the encoders arerendered to common, and a shift portion for shifting the signal beinginput into the pickup 201 is provided in a forestage section where thefunctions are common, in which the pickup 201 is driven and controlledin accordance with the shifted signal.

Further, in the present embodiment, when recording the visualinformation onto the optical disk 100, visual information is recorded byirradiation of the laser beam from the surface different from the datarecording surface. However, the visual information may be recorded byirradiation of the laser beam from the data recording surface.

In this case, the configuration may be such that the system control unit210 controls the pickup 201 to shift the focal position of the laserbeam, whereby recording of the contents data and recording of the visualinformation are performed. With this configuration, the operation ofturning over the surface of the optical disk 100 itself can be omitted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the light intensity of the laserbeam is varied, and the contrast of the visual information recordinglayer is increased, thereby to record visual information onto theoptical disk 100. However, it may be that the film property is changed,and the visual information recording layer changing in dye depending onthe intensity of the laser beam is used, whereby the visual informationis recorded onto the optical disk 100.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of a respective optical disk and data recording andplayback apparatus will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIG.7.

The present embodiment has features in that dedicated pickups areprovided for recording the respective contents data and visualinformation, in lieu of the manner of recording the various types ofinformation onto the optical disk by shifting between contents data andvisual information by using the single pickup in the first embodiment.Other respects including the configuration of the data recording andplayback apparatus and the configuration of the optical disk are similarto those of the first embodiment. As such, like reference numerals areused to represent like units and/or members, and descriptions thereofare omitted here.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, in the operation ofthe recording process, the shift operation of the driving waveform bythe drive shift control unit 206 of the first embodiment is notnecessary, and the first pickup is used to perform the operation of stepS12. Further, according to the present embodiment, at step S13 in thefirst embodiment, the system control unit 210 determines in accordancewith substrate information read out by the first pickup 301, whether ornot the surface recordable by the first pickup 301 is the data recordingsurface. The other processes are similar to those in the firstembodiment, so that descriptions thereof are omitted here.

With reference to FIG. 7, the data recording and playback apparatus forrecording contents data and visual information onto the optical diskwill be described hereinbelow.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the datarecording and playback apparatus that records contents data and visualinformation onto the optical disk of the present embodiment.

Similarly as in the first embodiment, either contents data or visualinformation output from the personal computer 50 connected as anexternal device is input into the data recording and playback apparatus300. The data recording and playback apparatus 300 records the receivedcontents data or visual information onto the optical disk 100.

The data recording and playback apparatus 300 includes a first pickup301 that drives a semiconductor laser in accordance with the receivedcontents data, and a second pickup 302 that drives a semiconductor laserin accordance with visual information. The first pickup 301 and thesecond pickup 302 are used to irradiate the laser beam on either thedata recording layer or visual information recording layer of theoptical disk 100. With the laser beam thus irradiated on the opticaldisk 100, recording and playback of the contents data and recording ofvisual information are performed on the optical disk 100.

As shown in FIG. 7, the data recording and playback apparatus 300 isconnected to external devices, such as the personal computer 50, and isconfigured to include an interface 202 that is used for either input andoutput of contents data or input of visual information; an input andoutput management unit 203 that manages contents data and visualinformation; a data recording encoder 204 that encodes the receivedcontents data into a predetermined format for recording the data on theoptical disk 100; a visual information recording encoder 205 thatconverts the received visual information into a predetermined format forrecording the information onto the optical disk 100; a decoder 207 thatdecodes a signal read out by the pickup 201 into a predetermined format;a data recording RAM 208 that is used either to record or to read outcontents data; a visual information recording RAM 209 that is used torecord visual information; and a system control unit 210 that totallycontrols the respective component units described above while performingsupply and/or reception of necessary control information through a bus211. The respective units are connected to one another.

For example, the first pickup 301 of the present embodiment serves as adata recording pickup of the present invention, and the second pickup302 of the present embodiment serves as a visual information recordingpickup of the present invention.

Further, for example, the data recording encoder 204 of the presentembodiment serves as contents-data dedicated drive signal generatingdevice of the present invention, and the visual information recordingencoder 205 of the present embodiment serves as visual-informationdedicated drive signal generating device of the present invention.

Further, for example, the drive shift control unit 206 of the presentembodiment serves as selecting device of the present invention, and thesystem control unit 210 of the present embodiment serves as detectingdevice and determining device of the present invention.

When recording contents data onto the optical disk 100, the first pickup301 operates in accordance with a modulated signal generated by the datarecording encoder 204.

More specifically, in accordance with the modulated signal generated bythe data recording encoder 204, the first pickup 301 causes driving ofthe semiconductor laser (not shown) provided in the first pickup 301,and causes emanation of a laser beam to the optical disk 100. The laserbeam varies in intensity corresponding to information being recorded.

In addition, the first pickup 301 emanates a laser beam of a fixedintensity for playback, receives reflected light thereof through a lightreceiver unit (not shown), generates a detection signal variablecorresponding to intensity variation of reflected light, and outputs thegenerated detection signal to the decoder 207.

The second pickup 302 has similar performance to the first pickup 301.When recording contents data onto the optical disk 100, the secondpickup 302 operates in accordance with a modulated signal generated bythe visual information recording encoder 205.

More specifically, in accordance with the modulated signal generated bythe visual information recording encoder 205, the second pickup 302causes activation of a semiconductor laser (not shown) provided in thesecond pickup 302, and causes emanation of a laser beam to the opticaldisk 100. The laser beam varies in intensity corresponding toinformation being recorded.

In addition, the second pickup 302 emanates a laser beam of a fixedintensity for playback, receives reflected light thereof through a lightreceiver unit (not shown), generates a detection signal variablecorresponding to intensity variation of reflected light, and outputs thegenerated detection signal to the decoder 207.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 includesthe data recording layer on which contents data is recorded byirradiation of the laser beam, and the visual information recordinglayer on which the visual information which is visually recognized andindicative of information regarding the contents data is recorded byirradiation of the laser beam. The data recording layer and the visualinformation recording layer are laminated.

With this structure, according to the present embodiment, when thevisual information is recorded to be visually recognized from thesurface different from the data recording surface through which the datarecording layer is irradiated with the laser beam, identifiable andvisual information can easily and accurately be formed in units of theoptical disk 100.

Accordingly the management can easily be done for a plurality of opticaldisks 100 that each enable characters, symbols, and/or other markings tobe easily and accurately indicated, compared to the case of handwritingcharacters, symbols, and/or other markings indicative of the contents ofthe contents data.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the case that thestructure is thus formed to include the data recording layer and visualinformation recording layer respectively provided by being laminated,the structure is the same as that of the conventional optical disk 100.The optical disk 100 of the present embodiment, therefore, can bemanufactured by a manufacturing method for the conventional optical disk100, so that the manufacturing cost for the optical disk 100 can bereduced, and low cost optical disks 100 can be provided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 isstructured such that, the visual information is recorded onto the visualinformation recording layer by irradiation of the laser beam, which isvisually recognized from the surface different from the data recordingsurface through which the data recording layer is irradiated with thelaser beam.

With this structure, according to the present embodiment, the visualinformation can be indicated onto the different surface of the datarecording surface, that is the surface on which the contents data is notrecorded, for example, in the case that the contents data is recordedonly onto a single surface. As such, when managing a plurality ofoptical disks 100, the optical disks 100 can be accurately identifiedfrom one another, therefore making it possible to improve the usabilityfor users.

According to the present embodiment, the structure is formed such thatthe visual information is recorded onto the visual information recordinglayer by irradiation of the laser beam from the surface different fromthe data recording surface.

With such a structure, in the present embodiment, the visual informationis recorded by irradiation of the laser beam from the surface differentfrom the data recording surface. Accordingly, when the contents data isrecorded only onto the single surface, for instance, the visualinformation is indicated on the surface onto which the contents data isnot recorded. As such, when managing a plurality of optical disks 100,the optical disks 100 can be accurately identified from one another,consequently making it possible to improve the usability for users.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical disk 100 hasthe structure in which the data recording layer is provided on the firstsubstrate 110 and the visual information area 123 is provided on thesecond substrate 120, so that the structure is the same as that of theconventional optical disk 100. The optical disk 100 of the presentembodiment, therefore, can be manufactured by the manufacturing methodfor the conventional optical disk 100. Consequently, the manufacturingcost for the optical disk 100 can be reduced, and low cost optical disks100 can be provided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, on the visual informationrecording layer there are provided the visual information area 123 forrecording the visual information; and the second read-in area 122 inwhich the substrate information indicative of the visual informationrecording layer, the visual information management informationindicative of the presence or absence of the record of the visualinformation, and the address management information indicative of therecordable area for visual information are recorded.

With this structure, in the present embodiment, readout of the varioustypes of data recorded in the second read-in area 122 makes it possibleto determine the possibility/impossibility of recording onto the opticaldisk 100 currently being irradiated with the laser beam, the proprietyof the visual information recording surface on the surface of theoptical disk 100, and the area on which visual information can berecorded. Consequently, visual information can be accurately and easilyrecorded onto the optical disk 100.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the structure is formedsuch that, the visual information area 123 in which the substrateinformation indicative that the visual information recording layer isregularly recorded is provided on the visual information recordinglayer.

With this structure, in the present embodiment, even when the visualinformation area 123 has been searched by the pickup 201, it is possibleto recognize that the optical disk 100 is provided with the visualinformation area 123.

Further, according to the present embodiment, on the data recordinglayer are provided the data recording area for recording the contentsdata; the first read-in area 114 in which at least one of the recordinglayer information indicative that the recording layer is thecorresponding data recording layer, and recording medium informationindicative that the visual information recording layer is provided onthe optical recording medium.

According to the present embodiment, with the structure describedimmediately above, readout of the various types of data informationrecorded in the first read-in area makes it possible to determine thepossibility/impossibility of recording visual information onto theoptical disk 100 currently being irradiated with the laser beam and thepropriety of the visual information recording surface on the surface ofthe optical disk 100. Consequently, visual information can be accuratelyand easily recorded onto the optical disk 100.

Further, in the present embodiment, on the data recording layer, thereprovided the data management area in which at least either one of therecording management information indicative of the presence or absenceof the record of visual information and the area information indicativeof the recordable area for visual information is recorded.

With this structure, in the present embodiment, when, for example,recording respective contents data and visual information onto theoptical disk 100 by using the different pickups 301, 302 from differentsurfaces, readout of the various types of data recorded in the firstread-in area 114 existing on the data recording surface makes itpossible to determine the possibility/impossibility of recording visualinformation onto the optical disk 100 currently being irradiated withthe laser beam, the propriety of the visual information recordingsurface on the surface of the optical disk 100, and the area in whichvisual information can be recorded. Consequently, visual information canbe accurately and easily recorded onto the optical disk 100.

Although the second pickup 302 of the present embodiment has theequivalent performance to the first pickup 301, accurate recording isnot basically necessary for recording visual information. As such, sincea light spot to be irradiated with the laser beam may be wide, so thatthe second pickup 302 may be configured either to have a lower NA(numerical aperture) than the first pickup 301 or to use a semiconductorlaser of a long laser-beam wavelength.

Accordingly, in this case, with the second pickup 302 irradiating thelaser beam with a low NA or with a long-wavelength semiconductor laser,visual information can be quickly recorded in the visual informationarea 123. In addition, since a low-NA pickup 302 or a long-wavelengthpickup 302 is relatively inexpensive, the data recording and playbackapparatus 300 can be provided at a reduced price.

According to the present embodiment, in principle, the respectivecontents data and visual information are discretely recorded onto thedata recording layer and the visual information recording layer.However, of course, contents data and visual information may be recordedonto the two respective data recording layer and visual informationrecording layer by synchronously controlling the respective first andsecond pickups 301 and 302.

Further, in the present embodiment, the substrate information, addressmanagement information, visual information management information, andvisual-information contents information are recorded in the secondread-in area. However, of course, a part or all of the items of data maybe recorded in the first read-in area.

In this case, these items of data are readout or recorded by the firstpickup 301, and the second pickup 302 is controlled by the systemcontrol unit 210 in accordance with the respective items of data havingbeen read out.

1. An optical recording medium comprising: a data recording layer which is provided to record contents data upon irradiation of an optical beam, and a visual information recording layer including a visual information recording area provided for recording only visual information, which is visually recognizable by irradiating the optical beam; and a visual information management area where first recording layer information indicating that a layer having the first recording layer information is the visual information recording layer, is previously recorded so as to be readable.
 2. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the data recording layer has a data recording area for recording the contents data, and a data management area where at least one of second recording layer information indicating that a layer having the second recording layer information is the data recording layer and recording medium information indicating that the visual information recording layer is provided on the optical recording medium is recorded. 3-20. (canceled)
 21. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the first recording layer information is regularly arranged in the visual information management area.
 22. The optical recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the first recording layer information is regularly arranged in the visual information management area.
 23. The optical recording medium according to claim 2, wherein any one of visual information management information indicating whether or not record of the visual information exists in the visual information recording area and area information indicative of a recordable area of the visual information is recorded in the visual information management area.
 24. A data recording apparatus that records visual information onto an optical recording medium including a data recording layer provided to record contents data upon irradiation of an optical beam, and a visual information recording layer including a visual information recording layer where only visual information visually recognizable is recorded upon irradiation of the optical beam, and a visual information management area where first recording layer information indicating that a layer having the first recording layer information is the visual information recording area is recorded, wherein the first recording layer information being recorded upon irradiation of the optical beam so as to be readable, the data recording apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs the visual information to be recorded; a pickup which is used to record the visual information thus inputted; a visual-information dedicated drive signal generating device which generates a visual-information dedicated drive signal for driving the pickup in accordance with the visual information thus received; a first detection device which detects the first recording layer information recorded in the visual information management area of the visual information recording layer; and a determining device which determines a side where the optical beam is irradiated on the optical recording medium in accordance with the result of the detection by the first detection device, wherein when it is determined by the determining device that the optical beam irradiates the visual information recording layer, the pickup records the visual information on the visual information recording layer in accordance with the visual information-dedicated drive signal.
 25. The data recording apparatus according to claim 24, wherein provided that recording medium information indicating that the visual information recording layer is provided in the optical recording medium is recorded in the data recording layer, and recording medium information indicating that the visual information recording layer is provided in the optical recording medium is recorded in the data management area, the data recording apparatus further comprising: a second detecting device which detects the recording medium information recorded in the data management area; and a second determining device which determines, in accordance with a result of the detection obtained by the second detection device, whether or not it is possible to record visual information onto the optical recording medium, which is irradiated by the optical beam.
 26. The data recording apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising: a contents-data dedicated drive signal generating device that, when the contents data are inputted into the input device, generates a contents-data dedicated drive signal for driving the pickup in accordance with the contents data thus inputted; and a data recording pickup that is different from a visual-information recording pickup for recording the visual information and that records the contents data into the data recording layer in accordance with the contents-data dedicated drive signal.
 27. The data recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the visual information recording pickup has a numerical aperture (NA) lower than that of the data recording pickup.
 28. The data recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the visual-information recording pickup emits an optical beam having a wavelength longer than that from the data recording pickup.
 29. The optical recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the visual information is recorded by irradiating a laser beam on a side of the data recording layer of the optical recording medium.
 30. The data recording apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the pickup records the visual information onto the optical recording medium by irradiating a laser beam on a side of the data recording layer of the optical recording medium. 